Erling Haaland is being backed to rise above Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League goal stakes, making more history in the process. The prolific Manchester City striker has become the fastest man to 50 efforts in elite European competition, with Pep Guardiola expecting the Norway international to go on and set a new all-time benchmark.

Harry Kane is being backed to become a transfer stopgap for Barcelona, with the Liga giants expected to make a play for Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland at some stage. If England captain Kane could be lured away from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2026, then Barca would have time in which to generate the funds required to make their Haaland dream a reality.

Erling Haaland has offered a blunt "I am British" response to questions on social media of why his accent has "turned". The prolific Manchester City striker, who has smashed another Champions League goal record, is a proud performer for Norway at international level. He was, however, born in the UK during his father Alf Inge's time in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta has backed Arsenal centre-back Gabriel to embrace the challenge of going head-to-head with Erling Haaland when the Gunners take on Manchester City in a huge Premier League clash this Sunday. The Brazilian defender and the Norwegian striker have clashed in the past, with their fiery battles becoming a storyline of their rivalry.

Arsenal and Manchester City played out a dramatic 1-1 draw on Sunday, with the two Premier League rivals unable to be separated through 98 or so minutes. Erling Haaland had given the visitors an early lead, before Pep Guardiola remarkably decided to park the bus to try and sneak the win. Those efforts went up in smoke in added time as Gabriel Martinelli scored to clinch a point for the Gunners.